sunset Archives - Floradise

09/08/2016

Summer Send-off: Lake Michigan Sunset Cruise

I’m not really sure why people are so eager to wish summer away. I’m in no hurry to get into cold temperatures. Labor Day may be the unofficial end of summer, but it very much still feels like summer in Chicago. Nonetheless, we said goodbye to the season with a sunset cruise on Lake Michigan after a day of exploring Garfield Park Conservatory.

I bought our tickets to the cruise on the Anita Dee II on Groupon for less than $24 after I used a promo code. If you’re wondering what a lake cruise on one of these yachts is like, it’s basically a nightclub on a boat. Before we boarded we were offered a drink special of 3 for $20 if you paid with cash while waiting in line. Graham and I, of course, never have cash, so we paid $8 per drink on board. I chose a rum punch (that tasted like summer) to drink while we cruised away from DuSable Harbor.

View as you pull away from the harbor, which is just south of Navy Pier.

If you take one of the 90-minute cruises next summer, I recommend getting in line early so you can find a good spot on the yacht. The seats and tables will fill up quickly, especially on the upper deck. Also, a line immediately forms at the bar, which takes cash and credit cards. One complaint: No food is served on the boat. Who doesn’t get hungry when they drink? Graham and I spent the first part of the cruise on the top deck before heading down to the bottom for a different view. We found a quiet spot on the back of the yacht where we could relax and take photos. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the view of sunset silhouetting the Chicago skyline can’t be beat. I didn’t want the night to end.

We spent the last portion of the cruise indoors people watching. By the end of the cruise people have the liquid courage to dance. It was entertaining and fun to watch adults of all ages dance to the same inappropriate, unedited lyrics. Graham kept trying to get me to dance but I was too embarrassed, or something. I definitely didn’t want to go to the dance floor. I was happy hanging out on the sidelines. (Introvert quirks!) Plus, some 50-year-olds were really showing me up!

Have you been on a cruise on Lake Michigan? What did you think? Check out my video below and subscribe to my channel to see more of our adventures.

* Note about parking: We found a spot near the harbor on SpotHero. Use my referral link to get a discount on your first spot.

12/21/2015

Where to Hike in Phoenix (Besides Camelback Mountain)

One of the best things to do in Phoenix during the winter months is hike. If you’re not hiking, what are you doing with your life? Highs of 60 degrees mean that you’ll still feel cool even after you’ve worked up a sweat, which you’ll do on the inclines. My favorite time to hike is after a storm when the clouds are clearing. The most gorgeous sunsets happen on partly cloudy days, after the rain washes away the dust, leaving a clear view of the colorful sky.
The sky might look something like this.

Besides looking up, feast your eyes on what’s around you. OK. maybe I’m a little biased because I grew up in the desert, but I think it’s beautiful at any time of day.

Dreamy Draw Recreation Area, Phoenix, hiking

Where to go:

Five options for hiking in Phoenix:

Dreamy Draw Recreation Area, 2421 E. Northern Ave. The photos above are from the Dreamy Draw area. It’s seldom crowded and you can find miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking and running.
Piestewa Peak, 2701 E. Squaw Peak Drive. The first time I hiked this trail was in seventh grade. Our school went to the mountain on a field trip, and any student who made it to the summit was rewarded. That hike sparked my love of hiking.
Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N. Usery Pass Road, Mesa. I’ve only hiked there once because it’s on the complete opposite side of town and I had many other options much closer to me when I lived in Phoenix. It offers a different viewpoint of the Valley that is worth the hike to see. Try Wind Cave trail for a shorter, not-too-difficult trek.
South Mountain, 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. I love the view of the city lights after sunset. But the view is nice any time of day. I’ve tried running on the trails, and the workout was intense. I haven’t even made a dent on the list of trails to take at the park.

White Tank Mountain Regional Park, 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road
Waddell. Try the waterfall hike after a rainy day to actually see water flowing.

What are your favorite trails in the Phoenix area? Do you prefer morning, afternoon or evening hikes? Let me know in the comments. post signature

12/14/2015

Arches National Park

Arches National Park has been on my bucket list for years. Seeing those sunset-colored arches has been the cherry on top of a sweet 2015. You can take in the splendor of the park even if you don’t have time for much hiking, but schedule some time for exploring if you can. Now that I’ve had a taste, I need more. I plan to return to Arches for more hiking as soon as Graham and I can.
Arches is outside of Moab, Utah, a cute town with tons of dining options. It’s easy to incorporate Canyonlands and Newspaper Rock State Park into your Arches trip, too. The scenic drive starts at the visitor center, where you’ll pay a $25 entrance fee per car. You can see the impressive rock formations as soon as you drive into the park. The park map shows points of interest and trails, along with information about the length and difficulty level of each hike. We were pressed for time so we only went on the shortest hikes. If you look to the north, you can spot the snow-capped La Sal Mountains.

Give yourself time to stop often to look out and reflect on the age of the rocks your are seeing. It made me feel small, much like my recent trip to the planetarium. You could easily fill your camera memory card with photos. I tried to force myself to put down the camera at times and really look around, although I almost had no choice but to only take mental photos. When we started our drive through the park, I asked Graham to stop so we could take a picture of us with the beauty of the land behind us. I carefully set up my tripod, changed my lens, and set the self-timer. The screen read the last message I wanted to read: I didn’t have enough battery life to use the self-timer. I had forgotten to charge the battery the night before. After years of talking about Arches, I finally had made it, but my camera wouldn’t work. I could have cried. Instead, we went back to the visitor center so I could plug my camera charger in for a while and get at least some of the pictures I wanted. Sorry, Graham, for throwing a mini tantrum!

You can see many of the arches on the drive, but to see the more famous and large spans, you’ll need to hike. You could do some yoga, too! I couldn’t help myself.

I’m sure Arches is beautiful year-round, but we liked that the park wasn’t crowded in the late fall. Stay for sunset to capture amazing photos.

And here it is: my favorite photo taken with my tripod.

Graham and I checked out the campgrounds, too, and I definitely want to return. (We won’t be taking Taylor and Capone, though, because most of the park is off-limits to dogs.) I can only imagine what it’s like to wake up, climb out of the tent and see the morning light illuminating the rock formations. Sounds like a dream!
post signature

08/15/2015

Arizona Monsoon Storms

It may sound crazy, but I miss Phoenix’s monsoons. They were a respite from the monotony of sunshine and 110 degree heat. The storms didn’t last long, but they put on a colorful show.

Graham and I used to race to the mountain when we knew there would be a storm or when a storm had just passed through our neighborhood. Those storms always created the best sunsets.

We would run to a specific viewing spot at Dreamy Draw Recreation Area. The trick is to get to the parking lot before it closes.

Sometimes storms in the West Valley would be visible. The rainfall would created a silhouette. If you’re lucky, you might see some lightning. To the south would be downtown Phoenix’s skyline, clouded in the city’s dusty haze. We would wait long enough to see the colors change. Those evenings were always the best summer nights.

Sometimes I miss being able to hike those mountains in the middle of the city. But one thing I don’t miss? That feeling of just having opened an oven — all day, every day. If things work out as we’d like them to, we’ll find ourselves in Phoenix in the cooler months. I can’t wait to go back our spot.

07/22/2015

Sunset Cruise on Lake Michigan

When I bought tickets for a Monday night cruise via Groupon, I had no idea what to expect. I wasn’t sure if it was on Lake Michigan or the Chicago River, but I figured it would be entertaining either way.

We boarded the Mystic Blue Yacht to see it’s basically a club on a boat. There’s a DJ and a bar on the top deck. People had already claimed the seats in the center, so we were left standing on the railing, which turned out to be the best position to take in views. (Each floor had music and a bar, and the lower inside portion had a dance floor, too.) No one danced at first; most people took selfies with the skyline backdrop while sipping their first drinks. After a while, the crowd got a little louder and more relaxed. The music was a selection of hits you forgot you loved, a lot of them from the ’90s.

The views are incredible. I mentioned a few times that I just can’t believe we live in Chicago.

Clouds initially made us nervous that it would rain, but there was nothing to worry about.
It couldn’t have been a more perfect evening.

The boat goes south in a big, slow loop before moving north for another loop. Both sides of the boat get views of the skyline. You get a nice glimpse of Adler Planetarium before turning around.

Also visible are Buckingham Fountain and the Navy Pier Ferris wheel.

We could see the northern neighborhoods to the right.

As the end of the two-hour cruise approaches, the yacht returns to Navy Pier.

All this fun cost $23 for two people (thanks to a $5 promo code), $13 for parking and $21 for two drinks. Am I crazy for thinking that’s a good deal for Chicago?

01/15/2015

A Dreamy Sunset Run

Rain leaves behind the most spectacular Phoenix sunsets. After Tuesday’s storm, I knew we’d be treated to a vibrant sky. Graham asked me to meet him at Dreamy Draw after work to catch the show. I hadn’t even planned to run that day; I was going to practice yoga and rest. But I can’t say no to a gorgeous sunset, so I soon found myself battling traffic as I raced to the park. I jumped out of my car and into Graham’s Jeep to change. I had minutes to spare: Sunset was at 5:41 p.m. and I arrived at 5:35. I put on my mismatched socks, laced up my shoes and took off, not even taking a few seconds to put my hair in a ponytail. Graham followed me in his bike, documenting my short run/hike with his GoPro.

Not a bad way to end a Tuesday!

01/05/2015

Week 2 of Marathon Training

I’ve officially signed up for my first marathon! I’ll be running the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon in Louisville in late April. Wish me luck!

Sunday: I skipped running because I had a headache for most of the day. Instead I went for a 1.84-mile walk before sunset, when I started to feel better. I noticed a lot of trash left behind after last Saturday’s parade; I spotted gloves, hats, water bottles, wrappers, signs, empty bags of chips. It all made me kind of sad. Let’s keep Phoenix clean!

Monday: 2.57-mile run. It was cold for Phoenix. My pace, according to my Garmin Vivosmart, was 9:10/mile, faster than I have been running. It felt good, though I wished I had a jacket that covered my neck and part of my face. Brr!

Tuesday: I skipped running again because I had a headache. I managed to get all my goal steps in by walking around the house.

Wednesday: 3.04-mile run to start my New Year’s Eve. I was hesitant to run when I looked outside and saw it had rained, but it cleared up for enough time for me to get my workout in. My pace was 9:12/mile — not too shabby.

Thursday: 1.1-mile sunset hike/jog to kick off the 30-day Ragnar Training Challenge. You can see snow-capped mountains from the trailhead. Apparently it snowed in Phoenix on New Year’s Eve, but we didn’t see any at our house. I was bummed.

I’m taking this sunset as a sign that 2015 will be good to us.

I followed up the hike with a 30-minute online yoga class via Yoga International, which is offering free online yoga classes all month!

Friday: 3.5-mile run. I was proud of myself for running A. after work and B. in the cold. I ran my first 3 miles in a 9:21/mile pace and finished the last half mile at 8:46/mile.

Saturday: 2.58-mile hike in the snow. Graham, the pups and I drove up north to play. Lots of people had the same idea, which became clear when we hit traffic from Anthem until Black Canyon City. We pulled over at Schnebly Hill Road and walked along the closed road toward the camping area. We decide to climb a random hill to check out the view. It was tricky (and slippery) hiking up but so worth it. The dogs had a blast!

Sunday: 6.11-mile run at a 9:10/mile pace after my first aerial yoga class. I was nervous to start aerial yoga, but I had a lot of fun. I even went upside down once! I need to learn to trust that I won’t fall before I can move on to other poses. I’m excited to try again soon. It was nice to spend time with one of my friends from yoga-teacher training and grab brunch at Luci’s Healthy Marketplace afterward.

Enjoying savasana.

I tried the Greek omelette, which comes with spuds and fruit. And feta, lots and lots of feta.

Week 2 mileage: 16.32 miles. (I didn’t count the hike on Saturday or my Sunday walk.)

On to Week 3!

11/19/2014

Weekend in Sedona

Work has been crazy, so I haven’t been able to share our experience camping in Sedona last weekend. A year ago we camped in the exact spot we went to Saturday, and it was just as lovely and relaxing this year.

With our dogs in tow, we set off for Forest Road 525 near Sedona. We stopped to get a Red Rocks Pass without even realizing that the America the Beautiful pass we received as a wedding gift from Perfectley Peared works for that land as well. Oh well, at least we know for next time.

Our dogs immediately scoped out the area and indulged in some play time. After we were all set up, we hiked to the top of a small hill with our chairs and set up a fire in a conveniently located fire pit.

Sedona and yoga just go together.

The lighting at sunset was gorgeous against the red rocks. I never get tired of seeing it.

The temperatures were in the 50s during the day, which didn’t feel cold, until the winds suddenly hit in the middle of the night, dropping the temperatures into the 30s. We kept a Buddy Heater in the tent with us (with ventilation). At some point the wind pulled a stake out of the ground and part of the tent came blowing toward us and right to the heater, which promptly burned a hole in it. There was no fire, luckily, just a 6- by 6-inch hole. It was disappointing given that this was our first time using that tent.

The next morning we packed up and drove into town for Starbucks. We drove on the Boynton Canyon scenic route to get there.

I would love to stop at a local coffee shop next time when we don’t have the dogs, but at least there was this view to enjoy. It is probably the best from any Starbucks I’ve been to.

We also stopped at the Airport Overlook.

We returned home by that afternoon to relax before the workweek. I love our little adventures!

10/16/2014

That Amazing Sunset Yesterday

It’s no secret I am a fan of sunsets. Yesterday’s reminded me that Arizona can be a magical place. Lately I’ve been feeling unmotivated and kind of stuck. I’m hoping that by slowing getting back into running and taking more yoga classes I escape this funk. And it will help to focus on the things I have to be grateful for, like this view.

Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day. (Thanks to whoever said that quote.)

10/09/2014

Leilani Bed & Breakfast in Ocean View, Hawaii

Our 6-day Big Island adventure included a stay at Leilani Bed and Breakfast in Ocean View. Someone later described this area to me as the “middle of nowhere.” The sleepy town seemed like an ideal place to set up a bed and breakfast: quiet, serene and with an amazing view.

We were mesmerized by the sunset as we drove there. Pictures (on my camera) couldn’t quite capture the colors and the beauty. The sun looked huge! And the entire sky was orange and red. There seemed to be a mist around it, but I’m not sure what exactly I was seeing.

I remember commenting to Graham about how different the Big Island is compared with Maui and Oahu. It’s another world. It doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not, and it doesn’t bend over backward to please tourists, at least in some towns.

The hostess greeted us to give us a tour of the bed and breakfast and explain the house rules.

1. No smoking. 2. No food and drinks in the room. 3. Keep the shoes on the lanai.

She was nice enough to accommodate our request for a room with a private bathroom. (I didn’t snap a photo of it, but you can find plenty on the B&B’s website.)

The lanai was adorned with artwork (I believe it was by the hostess), as well as a table in the center where breakfast was to be set up. A reading area in the corner contained books, magazines and flyers about things to do on the Big Island. A fridge was meant to hold any of our food and drinks, and there was a (non-functioning) water fountain in another corner. The hallway has a map with pins marking where guests came from.

Graham and I sat in the lanai to enjoy our snack dinner and plan our next morning.

Breakfast is served at 8:30 or so, but Graham and I were up and about long before then. We sat on the lanai as he sipped his coffee and read about the green sand beach. Then we checked out the outdoor areas.

The entryway into the lanai.

The hosts noticed us (their living quarters are on the other side of the house and separated by a sliding glass door into their kitchen) and brought out breakfast a little earlier. We were ever so grateful! A couple from Brazil joined us for breakfast.

We told the hostess about our plans to see the green sand beach, and she told us about locals who offer rides for a fee. She suggested following their route if we didn’t want to hitch a ride. (More on that in another post.) We appreciated her advice as we set off to the day’s adventures.

Related posts:

Share this:

Where to go:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: